title: Hereditary mtDNA heteroplasmy: a baseline for aging?
abstract: Do mtDNA mutations contribute to the aging process, or are they innocent bystanders? Ross et al. (2013) show that inherited mtDNA point mutations lead to a premature aging phenotype in mice and "prime" the maternal lineage, interacting with subsequent somatic mutations to cause brain malformations and shorten lifespan.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Central Parkway, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keogh
authors.forename: Patrick F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Chinnery
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005111:Extrachromosomal Inheritance / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial